Financial resources directory

Because many patients cannot afford to pay for the full cost of organ transplant surgery, or even a small insurance deductible amount, using their personal funds, it is common for patients explore other options to help them fund their procedure.

The following organizations may provide financial assistance to transplant candidates or recipients and their families. This is a sample listing and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive list or an endorsement. Ask your transplant financial team, insurance provider or employee benefits officer for the latest information or help.

Financial

Air Charity Networkwww.aircharitynetwork.org877-621-7177
Transports ambulatory patients up to a distance of 500 to 700 miles using private pilots and their aircraft. Can transport people for transplant and follow-up appointments. Medical and financial need must be documented. Service is free of charge.

Air Care Alliancewww.aircarealliance.org
2060 State Highway 595
Lindrith, New Mexico 87029888-260-9707
Provides the only central listing of all known groups whose members perform free public benefit flights for patient transport and other missions of public service.

American Liver Foundationwww.liverfoundation.orginfo@liverfoundation.org
39 Broadway, Suite 2700
New York, NY 10006800-465-4837
The American Liver Foundation’s mission is to facilitate, advocate, and promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment, and cure of liver disease.

Angel Flightwww.angelflight.com
12345 E. Skelly Drive
Tulsa, OK 74128918-749-8992
Provides free air transportation on private aircraft for needy people with healthcare problems and for healthcare agencies, organ procurement organizations, blood banks and tissue banks. No fees of any kind. Volunteers serving the public since 1983.

COTA (Children’s Organ Transplant Association)www.cota.orgcota@cota.org
2501 West COTA Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403800-366-2682
Helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant (organ,bone marrow and cord blood) by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA does not charge for its services and does not take a percentage of funds raised.

Georgia Transplant Foundation (GTF)www.gatransplant.org
2201 Macy Drive
Roswell, GA 30076770-457-3796
Provides both financial and educational assistance during a time that is often overwhelming for those undergoing or waiting for a transplant throughout the entire state of Georgia.

Health Insurance Marketplacewww.healthcare.gov800-318-2596
Stay up to date on health insurance regulation and policy information and learn more about your health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act.

HelpHOPELive (formerly NTAF)www.helphopelive.orginfo@helphopelive.org800-642-8399
Help Hope Live’s mission is to support community-based fundraising for people with unmet medical and related expenses due to cell and organ transplants or catastrophic injuries and illnesses.

National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC)www.livingdonorassistance.org
2461 S. Clark Street, Suite 640
Arlington, VA 22202703-414-1600
This program provides financial assistance to those who want to donate an organ, priority is given to individuals not otherwise able to afford the travel and subsistence expenses associated with living organ donation.

National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representativeswww.nosscr.org
560 Sylvan Ave, Suite 2200
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632201-567-4228
The National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) is a specialized bar association for attorneys and advocates who represent Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplement Security Income claimants throughout the adjudicative process.

Scholarship Programs

TRIO Scholarship Programhttp://www.trioweb.org/resources/trio-scholarships.html
Each year, TRIO’s Scholarship Program gives thousands of dollars in academic grants to transplant candidates, recipients, donors or their family members. These scholarships are generously funded by several TRIO chapters, individuals and interested organizations. Each recipient receives $1,000 toward their education at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

The Jessica Beth Schwartz Scholarship http://www.donors1.org/patient/resources/jessiesday/
Awards $2,500 scholarships yearly to transplant recipients under the age of 25 who are a senior in high school or enrolled in a 2 or 4 year college, university, or trade/technical school, offered to students residing in the Gift of Life Donor Program (OPO) service area (Eastern half of Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey or Delaware).

The David Nelson Jr Memorial Fund Scholarship http://www.donors1.org/donor/nelsonmemorialfund/
This $1,000 scholarship is offered to a donor family’s children living in the Gift of Life Donor Program region (Southern NJ, Delaware, and southeastern Pennsylvania) and is available for private/parochial high school in addition to college, university, trade school.

Isabelle Christenson Memorial Scholarshiphttp://www.izziesgifts.org/scholarships.php
This scholarship awards an individual or family member of someone directly impacted by organ donation, including transplant candidates, recipients and donor family members.

The Marcena Lozano Memorial Scholarship Fund http://marcenasmiracles.com/scholarship.html
In memory of their daughter, Marcena, the Lozanos offer several $1,000-$3,000 undergraduate scholarships with preference to candidates in western New York state but awarded to students all across the country.

Kidney & Urology Foundation of America (KUFA) Scholarship https://www.kidneyurology.org/Patient_Resources/scholarships.php
The Kidney & Urology Foundation of America offers a scholarship and awards program for kidney and urology patients. One of only a few such initiatives in the country, the program is designed to stimulate education and allow individuals to live productively with renal and urologic disease.

The Betty Montoya Gift of Life Scholarship http://otapnm.com/scholarship
This award honors former APS teacher and kidney transplant recipient Betty Montoya with two $1,000 scholarships and two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors from a New Mexico high school.

Reference and Publication Information

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is committed to providing accurate and reliable information for transplant patients. The content on this page was originally created on July 10, 2003 by UNOS and last modified on July 16, 2012.
The following sources were used as references: